#1 Sports Event More than 700,000 spectators came to watch tennis stars play in Flushing Meadows, which began a transformation last year that will include renovating to the U.S.T.A. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, building a roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium, and adding the new Louis Armstrong Stadium by 2018. Next: August 31-September 13, 2015
Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
2. New York City Marathon
#2 Sports Event More than 50,000 runners crossed the finish line of the world’s biggest marathon in 2014, which marked the race’s first year with new title sponsor Tata Consultancy Services, along with new sponsors Airbnb and Tag Heuer. Next: November 1, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of NYRR
3. Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
#3 Sports Event (up from #5) This is the venerable dog show’s first year running co-located with the American Kennel Club’s Meet the Breeds. The extended “Westminster Week” also includes an agility competition for the second year in a row. Next: February 2016
Photo: Jack Grassa
4. N.B.A. Draft
#4 Sports Event The event makes a splash whether it’s held at Madison Square Garden or Brooklyn’s Barclays Center (this year’s location was not determined at press time). Next: June 25, 2015
Photo: Rich Arden/ESPN Images
5. Five Boro Bike Tour
#5 Sports Event Rolling out a new website and branding, the TD Bank-sponsored ride attracts a sold-out crowd of 32,000 participants. Next: May 3, 2015